Tractor with power take-off and implement coupling means



April 8, 1958 c. w. KELSEY TRACTOR WITH POWER TAKE-OFF AND IMPLEMENTCOUPLING MEANS Filed Feb. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8, 1958 c. w.KELSEY 2,829,723

TRACTOR WITH POWER TAKE-OFF AND IMPLEMENT COUPLING MEANS 4 Filed Feb.12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [r2 ven tor:

Cadwaflaczer W K1963, 0 by United States Patent TRACTOR WITH POWERTAKE-OFF AND IIVIPLEMENT COUPLING MEANS Cadwallader W. Kelsey, Troy, Y.Application February 12, 1954, Serial No. 409,835

4 Claims. (Cl. 180-53) This invention relates to improvements in gardentractors. More particularly, it pertains to a quick-change adapter framesecured to a. tractor chassis for rapidly and interchangeably mountingthereon various types of tools powered by the tractor motor to operatein advance of the tractor, especially in a manner such that evenincluding electricity generating equipment, waterpumps, etc, are soconstructed that each carries its own power plant. Such individual unitsare sold in substantial quantities and besides being initiallyexpensive, are costly to operate and require large storage areas,especially on larger country estates. Attempts have been made, with nolittle degree of commercial success, to use a single gasoline poweredtractor so constructed and arranged to mount such various types of powertools, but one of the chief difiiculties and disadvantages resides inthe fact that various supplemental individual attachments are necessaryfor mounting the same which have proven to be uneconomic and timeconsuming in making the necessary change-overs.

It has long been recognized by the industry that it would be a distinctimprovement to overcome such difilculties and disadvantages, and thishas now been accomplished by means of the present invention.

Generally, therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide asingle quick-change adapter attachment for a garden tractor which willpermit such various types of power tools to be interchangeably attachedand removed in a matter of seconds, such attachment being sturdy anddurable, yet simple in construction, economic of manufacture, and whichwill operate with relative freedom.

from wear and tear, as well as other mechanical difiiculties.

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a quick-changeadapter device for a garden tractor having a power plant and a pluralityof driving pulleys on a power take-off driving shaft comprising a frameto be rigidly secured to the chassis, and means on the frame in advanceof the driving shaft, and in coaxial alignment therewith,interchangeably to receive and oscillatably to support any one of aplurality of power tools having a power take-off pulley on such toolsand a belt connectable therewith to the driving pulleys, whereby thepower tools can be operated in advance of the path of the tractor whilefollowing variations in ground contour without any variation in tensionon the belt which at all times remains oscillatable with the tool.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such agarden tractor having a power plant and a plurality of driving pulleyson a power take-off driving shaft comprising the combination of a frameadapted rigidly to be secured to the chassis, means on the frame inadvance of the driving shaft, and in coaxial align ment therewith tosupport a power tool, a power. tool having a coupling rigidly connectedthereto and pivotally mounted on such means oscillatably to support thetool and a driving pulley mounted on the tool for actuating the same,the pulley being driven by a belt connected to the power take-off.

Yet, more specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide agarden tractor, which comprises in combination, a power plant mounted onthe chassis of the tractor; a power take-off driving shaft, having aplurality of driving pulleys thereon, cooperatively connected with thepower plant and also being mounted on the chassis; a quick-changeadapter frame mounted on the chassis; means on the frame in advance ofthe driving shaft, the center of which means is in coaxial alignmenttherewith, to support a power tool; a power tool; a coupling rigidlyconnected to the power tool and pivotally mounted on the meansoscillatably to support the tool; and a driving pulley mounted on thetool for actuating the same, the pulley being driven by a belt connectedto the power takeoif; whereby the power tool can be operated in advanceof the path of the tractor while accommodating itself to variations inground contour without any variation in tension on said belt which willat all times remain oscillatable with the tool.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of thequick-change adapter housing frame with a portion of the housing inlowered position;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the samequick-change adapter housing frame in a closed position, a portion of adriving shaft, pulleys and chassis in dotted line position, and afragmentary portion of a form of power tool;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a gardentype of tractor illustrating the quickchange adapter attachment inassembled relation thereon and carrying a power tool in advance thereof;and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of Fig. 3, with parts broken away,illustrating in dotted line position the oscillatable or pivotalmovement of the power tool as it accommodates itself to variations inground contour while being operated in advance of the tractor.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fig.1 a preferred form of quick-change adapter housing frame attachmentconsisting of an upper section 10 and a lower section indicatedgenerally at 11. The lower section consists of a front panel 12 on theface of which is an off-set hub portion 13. Rearwardly extending fromthe face panel 12 is a yoke portion consisting of a lower frame section14, side frame sections 15 and a curved rear U-shaped section 16 whichterminates in lug portions 17 adapting the same securely to be attachedto the chassis of the tractor by means of machine screws 18. A hole 19in the bottom of the U-shaped frame is adapted to receive a machinescrew 20 also for purposes of attachment to the chassis. The section 10is piv- 3 otally mounted to the section 12 by hinges 21 and when somounted on the chassis adapted to house the changespeed driving pulleys22 of the motor 23, the power takeoff shaft 24 and driving pulleys 25mounted thereon. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The pulley housing section 10 isheld in position by suitable side spring clips 10";

An important feature of the invention is the means for oscillatablysupporting any one of the power tools adapted for such a tractor, and itis essential that the center of such means be in coaxial alignment withthe power take-off shaft 24. Preferably, I employ a stud shaft 26 forthe purpose, rigidly projecting from the front section 12 of thequick-change adapter frame and this stud shaft is in coaxial alignmentwith the power takeoff shaft 24. 'Adjacent the outer end of the shaft 26is an annular groove 27 and the shaft is of a length to accommodate acoupling 28 on a power tool 29 in addition to a sleeve locking member 30for the coupling, which locking member fits on the shaft inwardly of thegroove 27, and a clip-on locking element for the member 30 in the formof a bifurcated type of cotter pin 31, the bifurcated ends 32 of whichclip into the annular groove 27.

It will be observed that the coupling 28 on the power tool 29 has anopening 33 therein to be received by the stud shaft 26. Adjacent theopening 33 is an arcuate slot 34 and preferably, on the same diameter,adjacent one end of the slot 34, is an opening 35. All power toolsadapted for use in conjunction with my invention may be provided withsuch couplings. When the quick-change adapter attachment is secured tothe chassis 36 of the tractor, indicated generally at 37, by means ofthe machine screws 18 and 20, the same is ready interchange ably toreceive any one of a number of such power tools of the type abovementioned. The locking members 30 and 31 which are normally carried onthe stud shaft 26 when no power tool is being carried thereby, such as,for example, when the tractor is being used for plowing or soil workingpurposes, are then removed and in a matter of seconds the stud shaft 26is slipped into the opening 33 of the coupling 28, the locking member 30is slipped onto the shaft 26, and the locking pin 31 is clipped into theannular groove 27. The power tool 29 is then pivotally or oscillatablysupported on the shaft 26. However, since it is desirable to limit thedegree of oscillation to which the power tool may be subjected, afillister type screw 38 is inserted through the slot 34 and screwed intothe opening 39 on the offset hub 13. The head of the screw will befitted in the slot without binding the same and acts as a limit stopthrough which oscillation or pivotal action of the power tool can takeplace, which preferably is in the neighborhood of about 30. With thisarrangement, the power tool will readily adapt and accommodate itself tovariations in ground contour as illus trated in Fig. 4 in dotted lineposition.

When it is desired to prevent oscillation of the tool, or where a typeof tool is utilized which is intended to re main fixed, the screw 38 ora smiliar screw 39', may be inserted through the opening in the coupling28 and screwed into the threaded opening 40 provided therefor in theoff-set hub section 13.

When the tool 29 is so positioned, for example, to oscillate, the sameis powered by means of a pulley 41. Such a pulley is mounted on a shaftin a gear box 42 containing suitable bevel gears (not shown) acting as afurther power take-off device to rotate a pulley 43. The pulley 43 inturn rotates another pulley 44 through a belt 45 and rotates a shaft 46,on the other end of which is mounted a rotatable tool (not shown).

The pulley 41 is driven by means of a belt 47 passing between yokesections 14 and 15 of the adapter frame.

In addition to the important features of the tool being able toaccommodate itself to variations in ground contour, it will be observedthat a further important feature has been provided by the coaxialpositioning of the stud (ill 4 shaft 26 with the power take-off shaft24. With this arrangement, idlers, springs, special belts and automaticadjustments have been eliminated insofar as the driving belt 47 isconcerned. That is, this belt 47 being mounted on one of the pulleys 25on the shaft 24 which is in coaxial alignment with the stud 26 permitsoscillation of the tool without any variations of tension on the belt.Once the proper belt adjustment is made, it will remain so regardless ofthe position of the tool.

It should be understood that the invention herein described is notnecessarily limited for use with a garden tractor having a plurality ofchange-speed pulleys as shown in the drawings, but is equally applicableto such tractors of the more economical type wherein a single pair ofpulleys are provided to give a constant speed.

it will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readilyand efiiciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made inthe above construction and different embodiments of the invention couldbe made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters iatent is:

1. In a quick-change power tool coupling device, for a tractor having alongitudinal driving shaft with driven pulleys at its forward end and adriving motor with driving pulleys connecting the driven pulleys by abelt, the improvement comprising a first coupling member constituting ahousing for said driving and driven pulleys which comprises a transversefront panel spaced longitudinally forwardly of said driving shaft andprovided with a fiat abutment bearing surface on the forward facethereof; a rearwardly extending frame secured to said first couplingmember and terminating in a yoke secured to said tractor to therebysupport said panel transversely. in front of said driving shaft and saiddriving and driven pulleys; a single, fixed stud shaft extendingnormally from the front face of said panel and integral therewith but inspaced-apart coaxial alignment with said driving shaft with said panelintervening therebetween; a second cou lin member of a ower tool havin abearin 0 en g a ing therein and pivotally received by said stud shaft inabutting relation to said surface to thereby oscillatably mount saidtool to adapt it to accommodate itself to variations in ground contouras the tool is operated in advance of said tractor; a power take-off onsaid tool; driving means connecting said driven pulley with said powertake-off and said tool to operate the latter; means cooperativelyconnecting said coupling members to control the degree of oscillation ofsaid tool; and means to maintain said tool in position to oscillate onsaid stud shaft.

2. In a quick-change power tool coupling device, for a tractor having alongitudinal driving shaft with driven pulleys at its forward end and adriving motor with driving pulleys connecting the driven pulleys by abelt, the improvement comprising; a first coupling member constituting ahousing for said driving and driven pulleys which comprises a transversefront panel spaced longitudinally forwardly of said driving shaftprovided with a fiat abutment bearing surface on the forward facethereof; a rearwardly extending frame secured to said first couplingmember and terminating in a yoke secured to said tractor to therebysuspend said panel transversely in front of said driving shaft and saiddriving and driven pulleys; a single, fixed stud shaft extendingnormally from the front face of said panel and integral therewith but incoaxial spacedapart alignment with said driving shaft; a second couplingmember of a power tool having a bearing opening therein and pivotallyreceived by said stud shaft in abutting relation to said surface tothereby oscillatably support said tool as it follows variations inground contour as the tool is operated in advance of said tractor; apower takeoff on said tool; driving means connecting said driven pulleywith said power take-off and said tool to operate the latter; means,including an arcuate slot in said second coupling member adjacent saidbearing opening and on the same diameter, and a limit stop memberconnected to said panel and projecting into said slot to control thedegree of oscillation of said tool; and means to maintain said tool inposition to oscillate on said stud shaft.

3. In a quickchange power tool coupling device, for a tractor having alongitudinal driving shaft with driven pulleys at its forward end and adriving motor with driving pulleys connecting the driven pulleys by abelt, the improvement comprising; a first coupling member constituting ahousing for said driving and driven pulleys which comprises a transversefront panel spaced longitudinally forwardly of said driving shaftprovided with a flat abutment bearing surface on the forward facethereof; a rearwardly extending frame secured to said first couplingmember and terminating in a yoke secured to said tractor to thereby holdsaid panel transversely in front of said driving shaft and said drivingand driven pulleys; a single, fixed stud shaft extending normally fromthe front face of said panel and integral therewith but in coaxialspacedapart alignment with said driving shaft, and having an annulargroove adjacent its outer end; a second coupling member of a power toolhaving a bearing opening therein and pivotally received by said studshaft in abutting relation to said surface to thereby oscillatably mountsaid tool in order that it can accommodate itself to variations inground contour as the tool is operated in front of said tractor; a powertake-off on said tool; driving means connecting said driven pulley withsaid power take-off and said tool to operate the latter; meanscooperatively connecting said coupling members to control the degree ofoscillation of said tool; means, including a sleeve member on said studshaft between said second coupling member and 1 said annular groove; anda clip-0n locking element clipped terminating in a yoke secured to saidtractor to thereby hold said panel transversely in front of said drivingshaft and said driving and driven pulleys; a single bearing hitch memberfixedly extending normally from the front face of said panel and incoaxial but spaced-apart alignment from said driving shaft; a secondcoupling member of a power tool also having a single bearing hitchmember pivotally connected to said first bearing hitch member, wherebysaid tool is oscillatably supported to accommodate itself to variationsin ground contour as the tool is operated in advance of said tractor; apower take-off on said tool; 7

driving means connecting said' driven pulley with said power take-offand said tool to operate the latter; means cooperatively connecting saidcoupling members to control the degree of oscillation of said tool; andmeans to maintain said tool in position on said first bearing member asthe same is oscillating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,201,420 Zschau May 21, 1940 2,368,290 Donald Jan. 30, 1945 2,466,594Kelsey Apr. 5, 1949 2,615,759 Becker Oct. 28, 1952 2,676,447 Asbury Apr.27, 1954

